5 Best Alternatives to Plex in 2026
By Noahlast updated
From our data: 3 of the 5 alternatives listed here (Jellyfin, Kodi, and Universal Media Server) are completely free with no paid tier at all, a stronger free claim than Plex's own free-tier-plus-Plex-Pass model; a 4th, Tubi, is also entirely free but ad-supported, and only Emby offers a paid upgrade tier, priced from $4.99/month or $119 one-time for a lifetime license.
Jellyfin
Tubi
Emby
KodiHow we picked
- Price model was compared directly against Plex's own freemium structure (free tier plus Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass): Jellyfin, Kodi, and Universal Media Server are all completely free with no paid tier at all, a stronger free claim than Plex's own free-plus-paid-upgrade model.
- External review evidence was checked where available: Plex holds a 4.4/5 rating from 5 Product Hunt reviews and Tubi holds a 4.8/5 rating from roughly 1.2 million Apple App Store reviews (not directly comparable to Product Hunt counts), while Jellyfin, Emby, Kodi, and Universal Media Server all have no external rating on record.
- Open-source license was weighed against Plex's closed-source server: Jellyfin (GPL-2.0), Kodi (GPL-2.0), and Universal Media Server (GPL-2.0) are all fully open source, unlike Plex's proprietary Media Server software, while Emby's server remains closed-source like Plex's.
- Self-hosting requirement was compared against Plex's own hybrid model (self-hosted server plus free licensed streaming): Tubi requires no self-hosting or personal library at all, the opposite end of the spectrum from Jellyfin, Emby, Kodi, and Universal Media Server, which are all self-hosted-only like Plex's own Media Server.
Paid placement never alters editorial rank — read the full methodology.
Plex alternatives at a glance
| Alternative | Best for | Standout | Biggest weakness | Learning curve | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plexreference | cord-cutters and home media collectors who self-host their own movie, TV, and music library and want to stream it to any device, alongside free ad-supported content | A single app that streams a user's own self-hosted media library and free licensed movies, TV, and live channels side by side, with Plex Pass adding hardware transcoding and offline downloads. | Running Plex well requires maintaining a personal server (a NAS, PC, or dedicated box) rather than just signing up for a subscription, and several premium features (remote streaming for other users, hardware transcoding) require an additional Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass on top of that hardware investment. | Moderate | Free tier · paid from $1.99/mo |
| Jellyfin | self-hosters who want to stream their own media library without paying any subscription fee or relying on a company-owned platform | There is no paid tier, premium plan, or account requirement of any kind; every feature, including live TV and DVR, is free and the project has no commercial owner. | There is no official iOS or tvOS app maintained by the core project (iOS access relies on community clients like Swiftfin), and as fully self-hosted, community-supported software, users are responsible for their own server setup, updates, and troubleshooting with no paid support option to fall back on. | Moderate | Free |
| Tubi | viewers who want a large, legal, free movie and TV library without ever entering payment information | A licensed library of thousands of movies and shows from major studios (Paramount, Lionsgate, MGM) plus Tubi Originals, all free with no account payment info required, backed by Fox Corporation. | Ad breaks interrupt every title with no paid option to remove them, and content licenses rotate frequently so specific titles can disappear without notice. | Low | Free |
| Emby | people who already run a home server and want hardware-accelerated transcoding, DVR, and offline mobile downloads without switching to Jellyfin or Plex | A lifetime Premiere license ($119 one-time) unlocks hardware transcoding, DVR, and offline downloads permanently instead of requiring an ongoing subscription like Plex Pass | The server software is closed-source, unlike Jellyfin (a free, fully open-source fork of the same original codebase), which is the most common reason reviewers and privacy-conscious self-hosters pick Jellyfin instead of Emby. | Moderate | Free tier · paid from $4.99/mo |
| Kodi | users with an existing local or networked media library (ripped discs, downloaded files, home video) who want a customizable, remote-friendly player rather than a subscription streaming service | A fully open skinning engine and add-on ecosystem that lets users restyle the entire interface and extend functionality, run by volunteer developers with no corporate owner or paid tier. | Kodi streams nothing itself and requires the user to organize and configure their own legal media sources; its permissive add-on system has also drawn recurring piracy controversy from unofficial third-party add-ons the XBMC Foundation does not endorse, which creates reputational baggage for a project that is otherwise entirely legitimate. | Moderate | Free |
| Universal Media Server | technically comfortable users who want to stream a local media library to a smart TV or game console over DLNA/UPnP without cloud accounts or subscription apps | Broad on-the-fly transcoding built on bundled FFmpeg, MEncoder, tsMuxeR, and VLC engines, aimed at maximizing compatibility with whatever a target DLNA device can and cannot play natively. | No native web or mobile streaming client and no remote-access app of its own, so users who want Plex- or Jellyfin-style casting from anywhere need to pair UMS with separate remote-access tooling or rely purely on local-network DLNA discovery. | Moderate | Free |
Plex
Universal Media Server1.Jellyfin — best Plex alternative for self-hosters who want to stream their own media library without paying any subscription fee or relying on a company-owned platform
Jellyfin is the best Plex alternative for self-hosters who want to stream their own media library without paying any subscription fee or relying on a company-owned platform, unlike Plex, which gates remote streaming for other users and hardware transcoding behind a paid Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass. Jellyfin is licensed under GPL-2.0 with no paid tier, premium license, or account requirement at all, funded entirely through voluntary donations, a stronger free claim than Plex's free-tier-plus-upgrade model. Jellyfin has no external rating on record, unlike Plex's 4.4/5 from 5 Product Hunt reviews, though its volunteer development community has built official web, desktop, Android, and Android TV clients plus live TV and DVR support at no cost. Every feature, including live TV and DVR, is free, and there is no corporate owner or phone-home telemetry, unlike Plex's proprietary Media Server software. Plex is still the better choice for users who want an official first-party iOS or tvOS app and free ad-supported licensed content alongside their own library: Jellyfin has no official iOS or tvOS app from the core project, relying on community clients like Swiftfin, while Plex bundles free movies, TV shows, and live TV channels directly in the same app as a self-hosted library.
Compared to Plex: no paid tier or account requirement of any kind vs Plex's Plex Pass/Remote Watch Pass upsells, fully open source under GPL-2.0 vs Plex's proprietary server, no official iOS/tvOS app vs Plex's native apps across all major platforms
Wins:Completely free with no subscription, premium tier, or paid feature gating of any kind · Fully open source under GPL-2.0 with an active, transparent development community · No account requirement or phone-home telemetry to a third-party company
Loses:No official iOS or tvOS app from the core project; iOS users rely on community-maintained clients like Swiftfin, unlike Plex's native apps · No free ad-supported licensed streaming library bundled in, unlike Plex's free movies, TV shows, and live TV channels alongside a personal library · No paid support tier means troubleshooting relies on community forums, unlike Plex's company-backed support
Pros
- Completely free with no subscription, premium tier, or paid feature gating.
- Fully open source under GPL-2.0 with an active, transparent development community.
- No account requirement or phone-home telemetry to a third-party company.
- Supports live TV and DVR recording alongside standard on-demand media streaming.
Cons
- No official iOS/tvOS app from the core project; iOS users rely on community-maintained clients like Swiftfin.
- Self-hosting requires users to manage their own server hardware, updates, and remote-access configuration.
- No paid support tier means troubleshooting relies on community forums and documentation rather than a vendor.
- Transcoding performance depends entirely on the user's own hardware, unlike cloud-hosted competitors with managed infrastructure.
Pricing: Free — Completely free, no tiers at all, vs Plex's free tier plus Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass (from $1.99/month) for remote streaming and transcoding (verified undefined NaN, NaN)
2.Tubi — best Plex alternative for viewers who want a large, legal, free movie and TV library without ever entering payment information
Tubi is the best Plex alternative for viewers who want a large, legal, free movie and TV library without ever setting up a self-hosted server, going further than Plex's free tier, which requires maintaining a personal server (NAS, PC, or dedicated box) to reach its full value. Tubi is entirely free with in-stream advertising and no subscription tier exists at all, requiring no credit card or account payment information, the same no-payment-info model Plex's free tier offers for its own ad-supported content. Tubi holds a 4.8/5 rating from roughly 1.2 million Apple App Store reviews, a far larger review base than Plex's own 4.4/5 from 5 Product Hunt reviews, though the two ratings come from different platforms and aren't directly comparable. Tubi's catalog spans thousands of titles from major studios (Paramount, Lionsgate, MGM) plus original programming and a live TV section, content Plex's own free ad-supported tier also carries but without Tubi's dedicated studio backing from Fox Corporation. Plex is still the better choice for anyone who wants to stream their own personal movie, TV, and music collection alongside licensed content: Tubi has no personal media server component at all, and its catalog rotates as studio licensing deals expire, meaning specific titles can disappear without notice, unlike a self-hosted library the user fully controls.
Compared to Plex: no self-hosted server or personal library setup required at all, a 4.8/5 rating from roughly 1.2 million Apple App Store reviews vs Plex's 4.4/5 from 5 Product Hunt reviews, a licensed catalog backed by Fox Corporation with thousands of studio titles
Wins:No self-hosted server or personal library setup required at all, unlike Plex's hybrid model · 4.8/5 rating from roughly 1.2 million Apple App Store reviews, a far larger review base than Plex's 5 Product Hunt reviews · Large licensed catalog spanning major studios (Paramount, Lionsgate, MGM) plus original Tubi programming, backed by Fox Corporation
Loses:No personal media server component at all, unlike Plex's ability to stream a user's own movie, TV, and music library · Ad breaks interrupt every title with no paid option to remove them, similar to Plex's own free ad-supported tier · Catalog titles rotate as licensing deals expire, so specific titles can disappear without warning, a risk a self-hosted Plex library doesn't carry
Pros
- Completely free with no subscription, credit card, or account payment info required.
- Large licensed catalog spanning major studios like Paramount, Lionsgate, and MGM, plus original Tubi programming.
- Available on web, iOS, Android, and major streaming devices (Roku, Amazon Fire TV).
- Includes a live TV section alongside on-demand movies and shows.
Cons
- Ad breaks run throughout every title, roughly every 10 to 15 minutes, with no paid option to remove them.
- Catalog titles rotate as licensing deals expire, so specific movies or shows can disappear without warning.
- No 4K streaming tier or offline downloads, features competitors like Netflix and Max offer on paid plans.
Pricing: Free — Completely free, no subscription tier exists, vs Plex's free tier plus Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass (from $1.99/month) for remote streaming (verified undefined NaN, NaN)
3.Emby — best Plex alternative for people who already run a home server and want hardware-accelerated transcoding, DVR, and offline mobile downloads without switching to Jellyfin or Plex
Emby is the best Plex alternative for people who already run a home server and want hardware-accelerated transcoding, DVR, and offline mobile downloads without an ongoing subscription like Plex Pass, since Emby's Premiere lifetime license costs $119 as a one-time purchase covering one household and up to 30 devices permanently. Emby's core server and apps are free, matching Plex's own free tier, and Premiere is also available monthly at $4.99/month or annually at $54/year, both cheaper entry points than Plex Pass typically carries. Emby has no external rating on record, unlike Plex's 4.4/5 from 5 Product Hunt reviews, and no aggregate rating could be confirmed on G2, Capterra, or Trustpilot for Emby either, making third-party sentiment harder to verify for both products from this data. Emby shares its origins with Jellyfin, having evolved from the same Media Browser codebase, and offers Alexa/Google Home voice control on Premiere, a smart-home integration Plex's own feature set doesn't list. Plex is still the better choice for users who want broader device app support and free licensed ad-supported content bundled in: Emby's server software is closed-source, the most common reason reviewers cite for picking Jellyfin instead, and Emby has a smaller, less consistently updated app ecosystem than Plex on some platforms.
Compared to Plex: a one-time $119 lifetime Premiere license instead of an ongoing Plex Pass subscription, Alexa/Google Home voice control on Premiere, no external rating on record for either product from this data
Wins:Lifetime Premiere license ($119 one-time) avoids an ongoing subscription entirely, unlike Plex Pass's recurring or lifetime-purchase model · Alexa and Google Home voice control included on Premiere · Premiere monthly ($4.99) and annual ($54) options both undercut typical Plex Pass entry pricing
Loses:Server software is closed-source, unlike Jellyfin (which shares Emby's origins) though the same as Plex's own closed-source server · Smaller and less consistently updated app ecosystem than Plex on some platforms · No free ad-supported licensed streaming library bundled in, unlike Plex's free movies, TV shows, and live TV channels
Pros
- Core server and streaming apps are free with no forced trial.
- Lifetime Premiere license ($119 one-time) avoids an ongoing subscription entirely.
- Hardware-accelerated transcoding and DVR scheduling are available to Premiere users.
- Broad device support: Windows, macOS, Linux server plus iOS, Android, Fire TV, Xbox, and PS4 clients.
Cons
- Server software is closed-source, unlike its direct competitor Jellyfin.
- Many of the more useful features (offline downloads, hardware transcoding, DVR) are locked behind the Premiere subscription or lifetime fee.
- Smaller and less consistently updated app ecosystem than Plex on some platforms.
- No aggregate rating could be confirmed on G2, Capterra, or Trustpilot, and Product Hunt shows zero reviews, so third-party sentiment is harder to verify than for Plex or Jellyfin.
Pricing: Free tier · paid from $4.99/mo — Free core server, then $4.99/month, $54/year, or $119 one-time lifetime (Premiere) vs Plex's free tier plus Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass (from $1.99/month) (verified undefined NaN, NaN)
4.Kodi — best Plex alternative for users with an existing local or networked media library (ripped discs, downloaded files, home video) who want a customizable, remote-friendly player rather than a subscription streaming service
Kodi is the best Plex alternative for users with an existing local or networked media library who want a customizable, remote-friendly player rather than Plex's more structured, app-centric interface. Kodi is entirely free and open source under GPL-2.0 with no account, subscription, or paid tier ever required, a stronger free claim than Plex's free-tier-plus-Plex-Pass model. Kodi has no external rating on record, unlike Plex's 4.4/5 from 5 Product Hunt reviews, though it's maintained by the non-profit XBMC Foundation with a large volunteer developer base. Kodi's skinning engine lets users completely restyle the interface, and its add-on ecosystem extends functionality well beyond built-in playback, including automatic library metadata scraping, a level of interface customization Plex's more fixed app design doesn't offer. Plex is still the better choice for users who want content and streaming built in rather than configured manually: Kodi streams nothing itself and requires the user to organize and configure their own legal media sources, while Plex bundles free ad-supported movies, TV shows, and live TV channels directly alongside a self-hosted personal library.
Compared to Plex: fully open source under GPL-2.0 with no account or subscription ever required, a skinning engine and add-on ecosystem for complete interface customization, no built-in streaming content vs Plex's bundled free ad-supported library
Wins:Fully free and open-source (GPL-2.0) with no account, subscription, or paid tier ever required · Skinning engine allows complete interface customization beyond typical media player theming · Add-on ecosystem extends functionality well beyond core playback, including automatic library metadata scraping
Loses:No built-in content of its own; users must supply and organize their own legal media library or sources, unlike Plex's bundled free streaming catalog · Initial setup and library configuration is more involved than Plex's more guided, plug-and-play interface · No external rating on record, unlike Plex's 4.4/5 from 5 Product Hunt reviews
Pros
- Fully free and open-source (GPL-2.0) with no account, subscription, or paid tier ever required.
- Skinning engine allows complete interface customization beyond typical media player theming.
- Runs on nearly every platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, tvOS, and BSD.
- Add-on ecosystem extends functionality well beyond core playback, including automatic library metadata scraping.
Cons
- No built-in content — users must supply and organize their own legal media library or sources.
- Unofficial third-party add-ons unaffiliated with the Kodi project have repeatedly drawn piracy scrutiny, creating a reputational association the XBMC Foundation explicitly disclaims.
- Initial setup and library configuration is more involved than a plug-and-play streaming app.
- Interface customization and add-on management assume a moderate comfort level with configuring software, unlike more guided competing setups.
Pricing: Free — Completely free, no account or subscription ever required, vs Plex's free tier plus Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass (from $1.99/month) (verified undefined NaN, NaN)
5.Universal Media Server — best Plex alternative for technically comfortable users who want to stream a local media library to a smart TV or game console over DLNA/UPnP without cloud accounts or subscription apps
Universal Media Server is the best Plex alternative for technically comfortable users who want to stream a local media library to a smart TV or game console over DLNA/UPnP without any cloud accounts or subscription apps, unlike Plex's account-based, cloud-connected model even for local streaming. UMS is entirely free and open source under GPL-2.0 with no paid tier at all, a stronger free claim than Plex's free-tier-plus-Plex-Pass model, and its GitHub repository has roughly 2,600 stars and 525 forks of active community development. UMS has no external rating on record, unlike Plex's 4.4/5 from 5 Product Hunt reviews. Broad on-the-fly transcoding through bundled FFmpeg, MEncoder, tsMuxeR, and VLC engines maximizes compatibility with whatever a target DLNA device can play natively, a technical depth aimed at device compatibility rather than Plex's polished consumer app experience. Plex is still the better choice for users who want a native web or mobile streaming client and remote access from anywhere: UMS has no built-in web app or mobile client of its own and no remote-access app, relying purely on local-network DLNA discovery, while Plex offers native apps on phones, smart TVs, consoles, and the web with remote streaming available through Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass.
Compared to Plex: no cloud account required for local DLNA/UPnP streaming, broad on-the-fly transcoding via bundled FFmpeg, MEncoder, tsMuxeR, and VLC, no native web or mobile client vs Plex's apps across every major platform
Wins:Free and open source under GPL-2.0, with no subscription, account, or cloud dependency at all · Broad file-format and device compatibility through bundled FFmpeg, MEncoder, tsMuxeR, and VLC transcoding · Works with DLNA/UPnP game consoles and smart TVs without requiring a dedicated client app on the receiving device
Loses:No built-in web app or mobile client, unlike Plex, which limits convenient remote or on-the-go streaming · No remote-access app of its own; users need separate tooling for casting from anywhere, unlike Plex's Plex Pass and Remote Watch Pass options · No external rating on record, unlike Plex's 4.4/5 from 5 Product Hunt reviews
Pros
- Free and open source under GPL-2.0, with no subscription, account, or cloud dependency.
- Broad file-format and device compatibility through bundled FFmpeg, MEncoder, tsMuxeR, and VLC transcoding.
- Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux with an active GitHub community (roughly 2,600 stars, 525 forks).
- Works with DLNA/UPnP game consoles and smart TVs without requiring a dedicated client app on the receiving device.
Cons
- No built-in web app or mobile client, unlike Plex or Jellyfin, which limits convenient remote or on-the-go streaming.
- Configuration and codec/transcoding setup require more technical comfort than app-based alternatives.
- Interface and library browsing are noticeably less polished than Plex's or Jellyfin's consumer-facing apps.
- Relies on local-network DLNA/UPnP discovery, which can be inconsistent across different router and device combinations.
Pricing: Free — Completely free, no paid tier at all, vs Plex's free tier plus Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass (from $1.99/month) (verified undefined NaN, NaN)
Which one is right for you?
- You want to self-host your own media library with zero subscription cost, everJellyfin
- You just want free licensed movies and TV without setting up any server at allTubi
- You already run a home server and want a one-time lifetime license instead of a recurring feeEmby
- You want to fully restyle the interface and extend functionality through an add-on ecosystemKodi
- You want to stream to a smart TV or console over your local network with no cloud account at allUniversal Media Server
- You want live TV and DVR recording bundled into a completely free, open-source serverJellyfin
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to Plex?
- Yes — Jellyfin, Kodi, and Universal Media Server are all completely free with no paid tier of any kind, and Tubi is free with in-stream advertising, all stronger free claims than Plex's own free-tier-plus-Plex-Pass model.
What is the closest alternative to Plex?
- Emby is the closest match structurally: both pair a free self-hosted media server with an optional paid upgrade (Premiere for Emby, Plex Pass for Plex) that adds remote streaming, hardware transcoding, and offline downloads, differing mainly in Emby's one-time lifetime license option and closed-source server.
Can Jellyfin replace Plex?
- Yes for self-hosters who don't need an official iOS or tvOS app, since Jellyfin is completely free and fully open source under GPL-2.0 with no account requirement. Users who want a native first-party iOS app and free ad-supported licensed content bundled in should stay on Plex, since Jellyfin has no official iOS app from the core project.
Which Plex alternative is cheapest?
- Jellyfin, Kodi, and Universal Media Server are all entirely free with no paid tier at all, cheaper than Plex's own free tier, which still requires a Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass (from $1.99/month) for remote streaming and hardware transcoding.
Which Plex alternative offers a one-time lifetime payment instead of a subscription?
- Emby's Premiere lifetime license costs $119 as a one-time purchase covering one household and up to 30 devices permanently, an alternative to Plex's own Plex Pass, which is also available as a lifetime purchase though its exact current price wasn't confirmed.
Does any Plex alternative require no self-hosted server at all?
- Tubi is the only alternative here that requires no self-hosted server or personal library setup; it's a free, ad-supported licensed streaming service, unlike Jellyfin, Emby, Kodi, and Universal Media Server, which are all self-hosted like Plex's own Media Server.